Here are some of my favorite Black artists books for kids. All of these books are great ways to introduce students to some of the amazing Black artists during Black History Month or any time of year!
A Blaze of Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas
By Jeanne Walker Harvey
This picture book with great illustrations tells the life story of Alma Thomas from her childhood to having her work displayed in the White House.
Tar Beach
by Faith Ringgold
Tar Beach is written and illustrated by Faith Ringgold. In it, a young girl uses her imagination to leave her family’s apartment building rooftop to fly across New York City, having a magical flight where she can go wherever she wants.
Life Doesn’t Frighten Me
by Maya Angelou with Paintings by Jean Michel Basquiat
This is a poem written by Maya Angelou about courage and not being afraid and the book features very fitting paintings by Jean Michel Basquiat.
Art From Her Heart
by Kathy Whitehead
This book tells the story of Clementine Hunter, whose paintings captured her everyday life as a plantation worker. It highlights how she went from painting by lamp light at night to having her work shown in museums.
Jake Makes a World
by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts
Jake Makes A World tells the story of well-known Harlem Renaissance artist Jacob Lawrence as a young boy. The story focuses on how he took the colors, sights and characters of his neighborhood to begin making art that reflected what he saw around him.
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
by Jen Bryant
This is the story of how Horace Pippin started drawing as a young boy but after being wounded in war, he had to overcome adversity to be able to paint again, going on to become a successful painter.
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean Michel Basquiat
by Javaka Steptoe
Radiant Child is the story of Jean Michel Basquiat and how he was always drawing and creating art as a child. The book tells about his rise to fame as an artist in New York City and how his artwork was never neat and clean, but still beautiful.
Black Artists Shaping the World
by Sharna Jackson
This book features overviews of 26 Black artists who were known for all different kinds of art including painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, installation art, and sound art. It features a lot of colorful pictures.
Happy reading! – Trista
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Related Post: Black History Month Art Lesson Ideas
Also, click here to check out all my Black Artist Resources on TPT.
